What to Do When You Receive a Strike 3 Holdings ISP Letter

A Strike 3 Holdings ISP letter is usually a notice from your internet provider that a federal court has allowed Strike 3 Holdings to subpoena the name and address of the account holder linked to an IP address in a copyright lawsuit. It is a serious document, but it is not a judgment, and it is not a finding that anyone did anything wrong. This free checklist walks you through what the letter means, what to keep, what to avoid, and the options people usually consider.

What a Strike 3 Holdings ISP letter is, and what it is not

• The lawsuit is usually filed against “John Doe,” identified only by an IP address, not by a person’s name.
• Your internet provider (for example Comcast Cable, Spectrum, AT&T Internet or Verizon Fios) received a subpoena and is telling the account holder before it responds.
• At this stage Strike 3 Holdings generally does not yet have the account holder’s name. The provider’s response to the subpoena is how it asks for it.
• The account holder is not always the person who used the connection. Several judges have noted that the person who pays the bill may be a family member, a roommate, a guest, a neighbor, or someone else.
• Each court and judge sets its own timeline for objections and for when the provider responds. The dates on your letter are the ones that matter for your case.

For how the court timelines differ, see Strike 3 Holdings ISP subpoena orders: deadlines depend on the court.

Your Strike 3 Holdings ISP letter checklist

1. ☐ Read the whole letter calmly. Read every page, including any court order or subpoena enclosed with it. You do not have to decide anything today.
2. ☐ Find the full case number and court. It looks like 1:26-cv-09853 and names a federal district court and courthouse location. Write it down exactly, including the first digit and the letters.
3. ☐ Note the dates the letter gives. Look for the date the provider says it will respond to the subpoena and any date set by the court. Do not rely on dates from someone else’s letter or another court.
4. ☐ Note the IP address, provider and account. Check which internet account the letter refers to and the IP address listed.
5. ☐ Keep every document as it is. Save the letter, envelope or email, and anything else you receive about the case. Do not delete files, wipe devices, or uninstall software.
6. ☐ Think about who had access to the connection. Household members, roommates, guests, an open or shared Wi-Fi network, or a router you did not set up. Keep these notes private and share them only with your attorney.
7. ☐ Do not contact Strike 3 Holdings or its attorneys yourself. Anything you say or send can affect your privacy and your options.
8. ☐ Do not file anything in court on your own without advice. A filing you make yourself can put your name in the public court record.
9. ☐ Do not sign anything or discuss the case online. Avoid forums, social media and public comment threads about your case.
10. ☐ Get a free confidential review. Email or upload your ISP letter and any court document through our contact page. An attorney will review them and explain your options.

Your options, in plain terms

• A quiet, anonymous resolution. Many people prefer to resolve the matter confidentially through counsel, often without their name appearing in the public court record.
• Challenge the subpoena. Depending on the facts and the court, an attorney may file a motion to quash the subpoena or ask the court to let you proceed anonymously.
• Defend the case in court. If the facts support it, Antonelli Law® defends Strike 3 Holdings cases in federal court. There are real costs and risks either way, and we explain both.

Most people who contact us want a quiet, anonymous resolution. We also defend in court when that is the right path. A consultation is a review of your documents, not a decision to litigate. You can read more about the pros and cons of settling with Strike 3 Holdings and motions to quash.

Documents to email or upload for your free review

• The ISP letter or email (all pages)
• Any court order or subpoena that came with it
• Any letter or document from the plaintiff’s attorneys
• The full case number and court, if you have them
• Any later document, such as an amended complaint or a waiver of service form

Talk with an attorney who handles these cases

Paul Sanders is one of the Antonelli Law® attorneys who reviews Strike 3 Holdings ISP letters. Here is what one of his clients wrote.

Paul Sanders

“This experience was one of the most stressful experiences I have ever dealt with. Mostly because it came out of no where and I have never been in trouble with the law like this before. From the beginning, Mr. Sanders was so nice and calming. I know he stayed on the phone with longer than he had to just to make sure I was ok. Although I remained stressed, he put me at ease with his knowledge, confidence, and sincerity. The entire process took about 2 1/2 weeks and I was so grateful when it was over. He is a great attorney.”

Posted by anonymous | October 14, 2025 | Hired Attorney

→ View original review on Avvo

Book a Free Consultation with Paul Sanders

Related reading

• Strike 3 Holdings ISP Subpoena Orders Are Out: Deadlines Depend on the Court
• Why Filing Your Own Motion in a Strike 3 Holdings Case Can Destroy Your Privacy
• Pros & Cons of Settling With Strike 3 Holdings
• We File Motions to Quash Subpoenas
• Strike 3 Amended Complaint: What the Later Stage Means
• Don’t Rely on Reddit for Strike 3 Holdings Information

This page is general information about Strike 3 Holdings and similar BitTorrent copyright cases. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and no outcome can be promised. Client reviews describe individual experiences; past results do not guarantee a similar result. Antonelli Law® defends people and businesses against copyright claims and does not represent copyright holders. Attorney advertising.